没有
méiyǒu
No 10 · trad. 沒有
没有 (méiyǒu) is the most common way to say "no" when you mean "don't have" or "there isn't." It's frequently used as a standalone negative response to questions about possession or existence.
What does 没有 (méiyǒu) mean?
没有 (méiyǒu) means “no 10” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “not have / not exist.”
When to use it
Neutral. While 没有 is a direct "no" for possession or existence, for other types of "no" (like "no, it's not right" or "no, I won't"), you'll use different words or negative sentence structures. When someone says 没有, a common reply might be 为什么 (wèishénme, "why?").
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "MAY-yoh." The first syllable has a falling tone, and the second is often said lightly (neutral tone).
Other ways to say it
- 不bùnot (general negative particle, usually before verbs/adjectives)
- 不是búshìno, it's not (used to negate 是, often a standalone "no")
- 不对búduìno, that's wrong (used to negate 对, often a standalone "no")
Examples
你有没有钱？没有。
nǐ yǒu méiyǒu qián? Méiyǒu.
Do you have money? No (I don't).
这里有咖啡吗？没有。
zhèli yǒu kāfēi ma? Méiyǒu.
Is there coffee here? No (there isn't).
我没有时间去。
wǒ méiyǒu shíjiān qù.
I have no time to go.
Pro tip: Unlike English, there isn't one single word for "no" in Chinese. Choose 没有 (méiyǒu) for "don't have" or "there isn't," and use 不 (bù) to negate other verbs/adjectives (e.g., 不去 "not go," 不好 "not good"), or 不是 (búshì) to say "it's not."
Related phrases
十 · 10一百 · 100一千 · 1000
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